Engine



Nov. 16 1926. 1,606,932

' G, w. FOSTER Emma I Filed Jan. 16. 19 25 :5 Sheets Sheet; 1

. Mama/776510" INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNES M Nov. 16' 1926.-

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r Mason/ 55221" G. W. FOSTER ENGINE Filed Jan. 16, 1925 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR m Wdf-SW? 755ml" Patented Nov. 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES GEORGE WATSON FOSTER], OF STROUDSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE.

Application filed January 16, 1925.

My present invention has reference to a hydraulic engine.

An object is the provision in a hydraulic engine of a cylinder through which a fluid flows and which has a weighted float piston therein, and means for trapping the water in the cylinder to buoy the piston in its upward stroke, and means for releasing the water to permit the piston to gravitate its downward stroke, and wherein the reciprocation of the piston is timed and is continuous.

A further object is the provision'of a hy draulic engine in which a cylinder having a port establishing a water inlet to the bot-- tom thereof is provided and wherein a valve controls the water outlet at the bottom of the cylinder, said cylinder having a weighted piston movable therein and influenced in its upward stroke by the water in the said cylinder when the valve is closed, and also wherein such movement of the piston will actuate mechanism for opening the valve so that the water will flow out of the cylinder to permit of the descent of the piston on its downward or power stroke, and wherein the parts are so arranged as to insure a free working thereof and proper timed movement of the piston in both directions.

lVith the above broadly stated objects in view and others which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,

, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and pointed out with partlcularity 1n the appended clalms, it being understood that chan es in form and ro ortion fallin within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the principles involved.

In the drawings s Figure l is a side elevation of a hydraulic engine in accordance with this invention.

, FigureQ is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the cylinder and the parts associated therewith.

- 66 of Figure As disclosed by the drawings I make use of a cylinder 1 having a closed bottom pro- Serial No. 2,917.

ing maintained above the level of such body of water so that thewater will flow through the lip into the bottom of the cylinder. The water may have a natural or gravity flow, and such water is designed to be maintained for predetermined intervals in the cylinder through the mediumof a slidable valve 4 which is arranged in the outlet 2 and which is of a weight sufiicient to be unseated by the weight of the water in the cylinder but which is held closed to retain water in the cylinder in a manner which will presently be set forth.

Received in the cylinder there is a preferably hollow weighted piston 5. In order to reduce friction between the piston and the bore of the cylinder, the piston is preferably provided with peripheral rollers 6 that contact the wall of the cylinder bore. The piston is in the nature of a float and is designed to be influenced in its upward stroke by the pressure of water let into the cylinder when the valve 4 is closed.

On the top of the cylinder, at the end thereof, directly above the outlet pipe 2, I secure a frame comprising side members held in spaced relation by suitable connecting means 8. Between the side members at the top of the frame I journal the shafts or trunnions 9 of a centrally grooved wheel 10. The rims of the wheel are each provided with a peripheral notch 11, the said notches defining inner angle and outer straight walls, and these notches are reversely arranged, that is, the straight shoulders thereof are disposed adjacent to each other.

ranged in the groove of the wheel there are pins or teeth 12 which. pass through the links of a chain 13. This chain has one of its leads directed through the cylinder, and passes through a tube 14: in the piston 5 and has its ends secured to the valve 4. The:

opposite lead of the chain has secured thereon a counter-balancing weight 15. -Pivotally secured to the respective side members 7 of the frame there are latching dogs 16 and 17 respectively, the said dogs having.

their active ends engageable in the notches 11 on the periphery of a grooved wheel and whereby the said wheel is held from turning under the influence of the weight 15. The dogs 16 and 17 have angle tail portions 18 and 19 respectively which are extended beyond the frame at opposite angles.

The tail portions of the" dog project through what I will term the front face of the frame, and this part of the frame has secured thereon upper and lower outstanding bracket plates 20 and 21 respectively, and through suitable openings in these plates there are guided the spaced rods 22 and of a slide. llhe' rods 22 and 23 are approximately centrally connected by a brace member 241, and adjustably secured by means 25 on each of the said rods there is a contact or trip member 26 and 27 respectively. These trip members are in the path of engagement with the tail portions 18 and19' 'ot'the" latching dogs16 and 17.

The latching: dogs are each preferably journaled on a single shaft 29 which has arranged therearound a coiled spring, the

ends of which being connected to the respective dogs and whereby the said dogs. have their active or toothed ends forced into contact with the rim portions of the grooved wheel 10.

Secured onthe top of the piston float 5 there isa piston rod 30. This rod 30has adjjustably secured thereon by means 31 an upper stop collar 32 anda lower stop collar 33. These collars are arranged between a a cross piece 34 that is firmly secured to the respective slide rods 22 and 23. w

As previously stated, the flow of water from a stream or other body 1s directed;

1- In a hydraulic engine, a cylinder have through the lip into the bottom of the cylinder. This water finds an outlet. as lo-ng as the valve t is in open position. however, suppose the valve to be closed. The force of the volume of water let in the Cyl inder and acting on the piston float 5 will move the same in an upward direction in the cylinder; The stop. element 33 on the piston "rod 30 will be thus caused to contact with p the cross piece 34 on the rods 22 and 23,

moving both of the rods in an upward direction. The trip 26, being in the path of contact with the tail 18 or the latching dog 16 will, when contacting therewith, swing the said dog to releasing position. It is to be understood that the weight of the water in the cylinder will overbalance the counter weight 15, with the result that upon the G completion of the up stroke of the piston and the release of the holding means for the obvious We will,

grooved wheel 10, the valve 4 will be forced i to open position, the weight of the water drawing on the chain to move the counter-balancing weight 15 upwardly. The weighted piston float will then gravitate in a second direction to complete its power stroke The downward movement of the piston-will cause the stop element 32 on the piston rod 30 to contact with the upper face oflhe cross piece 34, thus influencing the guide rods 22 and 23 in a downward direction and causing the trip '27 to contact with the tail 19 of the second holding dog, releasing this dog so that the counter-balancing weight will gravitate downwardly, drawing on the chain to-cause the latter to close the valve 4. These operations are continued as long as water is let into the cylinder. The parts are so constructed and arranged; that a smooth and continuous operation of the engine is maintained. The rapidity of the reciprocation of the piston is regulated by adjusting the trips 26 and 27 and likewise by adjusting the stop or contact elements 31 and 33 on the piston rod 30, and it is believed thatthe simplicity of the invention as well as the many advantages thereof will be perfectly apparent to those skilled in theart to which such devices relate.

I'have not illustrated a power transmitting mechanism associated with the improvement as disclosed in my present ap plicati on, as I have in mind a novel mechanism for this purpose which, when perfected, will form the subject matter of another application. It is obvious, however, that the piston rod could be toothed and engage with a toothed wheel which might be held from movement, except upon the'downward or power stroke of the piston, while other means for transmitting power should present themselves.

,Having described the invention, I

ing an open mouth and designed to be partly submerged in a body of flowing water, i

a lip on one side of the cylinder below the mouth thereof establishing a water inlet to the body of the cylinder, said cylinder having. a tubular outlet on the bottom thereof, a slidable valve controlling the outlet, a piston movable the cylinder, a rod therefor, weight influenced flexible means connected to the valve, a grooved wheel over which said means is trainedpupper and'lo-wer spring influenced dogs engaging the roller for holding the same from turning under the influence of the weighted means, means actuatedby the piston rod in the movement of the piston in both directions for alternately releasing the 'mentioned, dogs, and whereby to permit of the weighted meansto alternately open and close the valve, for the purpose set forth.

2. A hydraulic engine including a cylinder having aclosed bottom provided with a valve controlled opening and which cylinder is designed to have a fluid body flow therethrough, a piston in the cylinder having a rod extension, a frame on the cylinder, spaced connected slidable rods guided on the frame, adjustable contacts on the rod for engaging the frame for moving the same in two directions in accordance with the movement of the rod and piston, trip elements on the rods, a grooved roller journaled on the frame, spring influenced upper and lower dogs engaging the roller to hold the same from free movement, a weight influenced flexible element trained over the roller and connected with the valve, and upper and lower adjustable trip elements on the respective rods in the path of contact with the respective dogs, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE WATSON FOSTER. 

